No pay, no play
Mqondisi Dube | Friday August 23, 2019 12:12
The Botswana Football Association (BFA) made probably the loudest statement yet regarding Club Licensing, after chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo told journalists this week that if a club fails to pay its players, it would be relegated to the bottom league.
“The club will not drop a division, but will go straight down to the bottom division. We are serious about this issue,” said Mfolo.
There have been threats before, albeit mild and hardly carried out. But Mfolo, in his usual calm demeanour, spelt out probably the most dreaded words for Premier League sides.
A club that fails to pay a player after efforts between the BFA and the Footballers Union of Botswana (FUB) will result in demotion to the regional league.
Sides that fail to maintain an office, will be fined P2, 000 to be paid within 30 days. Failure to do so will result in the deduction of six points.
Clubs are expected to have Under-19 sides, with transgressing sides fined P5, 000 to be paid within 60 days, or six points will be docked from the team.
Further, no foreign coach will be allowed to coach a Premier League side without an A licence, as part of a raft of changes under the Club Licensing. With the continent’s mother body, CAF introducing Club Licensing in 2016, BFA has been lenient with clubs in enforcing the new requirements.
But Mfolo said the period of ‘baby sitting’ is now behind, and the association will crack the whip.
BFA technical director, Letsoaka Serame said as from next season, all Premier League coaches will not sit on the bench unless if they have an A Licence.
Notwane public relations officer, Mogomotsi Orapeleng felt the changes were too drastic and came early. “I am puzzled, as long as Botswana Premier League fails to pay teams monthly grants, we are far from reaching that decision (of relegating clubs). “Our product is not appealing, we need to clean our house first from the top. At least 90% of the clubs will go. The association is not doing enough to help us avoid the situation we find ourselves in,” said Orapeleng.
He said BFA’s decision would mean relegating the Premier League to lower leagues.
“Is that the route we want to take? We are not doing a lot of thing right, right from the top. We are still failing to draft league fixtures on time, and how do we expect clubs to comply? Why should we be that ruthless to clubs?” asked Orapeleng.
Extension Gunners chairperson, Willoughby Kemoeng said the decision came at a time when the club was reviewing its financial undertaking and creation to meet its requirements.
“We will comply accordingly. We are on some club fundraising activities in order to meet the Club Licensing requirements,” said Kemoeng.
But he was quick to add that, the BFA has to play ball as well, if clubs are to comply.
“We also wish the mother body will also play their part in terms of television rights and sponsorship grants to be paid in time to aid clubs to pay players in good time. Club licensing should be met at all quarters; both clubs and BFA,” he said.
Miscellaneous chairperson, Seiphetho Sefhako said it is a good initiative, but most clubs are resource constrained. His side faced a torrid financial time last season, which saw the team default in paying players.
More than half of the clubs in the 16 team assembly, battle to regularly shell-out due, and might face possible relegation, if the trend continues in the 2019-2020 season.
If a club is relegated, it cannot be replaced.
While the gnashing and gnawing of teeth looms for clubs, FUB is ululating.
“As the Union, we are very happy about developments around Club Licensing. It is long overdue. The same issues which are in the Club Licensing were discussed during the Bosele Declaration (2008),” said FUB secretary general, Kgosana Masaseng. He said clubs were alerted well in advance about the impending initiatives.
He said there are 10 clubs that have overdue payables cases before the Dispute Resolution Chambers. If there are no resolutions, such clubs risk getting the chop under the new regulations.